Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Cheers, Crawford
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Of all the unlikely things that could have happened in baseball Monday night, a Giants player picking up seven hits in a game where the Marlins started Jose Fernandez would’ve ranked way up there.
That’s what Brandon Crawford did, though, going 7-for-8 while driving in the game-tying run in the eighth inning and the game-winning run in the 14th. He became the fifth player in history and first since 1975 to compile a seven-hit effort. It was Rennie Stennett who did it in ’75, unbelievably notching seven hits in a nine-inning game.
“Only” two of Crawford’s base knocks came against Fernandez, as he had an infield single in the second and a double in the fourth. He had four singles and a triple in five trips to the plate against Marlins relievers. Crawford saw a 13-point jump in his batting average from .265 to .278, a feat that’s not easily attained on August 8 when you already have over 400 plate appearances.
Crawford actually entered play Monday hitting just .200/.256/.320 in the second half, so this wasn’t exactly a hitter who had been locked in at the dish. He’s now on pace for a career-high 101 RBI to go along with a .278 average that would also easily be a career best.
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Closer Change Coming in Colorado?
Rockies manager Walt Weiss gave closer Carlos Estevez a vote of confidence after the rookie blew a save chance last Friday. He may have to alter his line of thinking after Estevez blew another one Monday.
Estevez retired just one batter Monday for the second straight appearance, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk in a loss to the Rangers. The rookie reliever has permitted seven runs on five hits and three walks while getting just two batters out in his last two trips to the mound.
In fairness to Estevez (and Weiss), the 23-year-old had been pitching well before his last two blow-ups, allowing just three baserunners and no runs over his last six appearances. He’s also struck out 46 batters over 40 frames this season. However, Estevez has also issued 20 walks over those 40 innings and has now blown three of 14 save opportunities since inheriting the closer job (he also was charged with an additional two blown saves earlier in the season before being named closer).
You couldn’t blame Weiss for wanting to stick with Estevez if he didn’t have another legitimate option, but that’s not the case. Former closer Adam Ottavino has been lights out since completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery, tossing 11 2/3 scoreless innings with a 12/3 K/BB ratio. Since the beginning of the 2013 season, Ottavino boasts a 2.67 ERA and 173/52 K/BB ratio over 165 1/3 relief frames for the Rockies. There are also potential financial savings for Colorado to consider in giving Ottavino his old job back. His salary is already set after he inked a three-year contract extension over the winter, whereas Estevez’s eventual arbitration cost will rise if he keeps notching saves.
Weiss was non-committal on the ninth-inning job when asked after Monday’s loss, saying he’s “not going to talk about roles after a game.” The guess here is that Ottavino gets the next save chance for the Rockies. Pick him up if he’s still on your waiver wire.
Upton Stepping in for Pillar
When the Blue Jays acquired Melvin Upton prior to the trade deadline last month, the idea was to make him an active fourth outfielder down the stretch. However, they’re going to need him more than that over the next couple weeks.
Kevin Pillar was placed on the disabled list Monday with a sprained left thumb, an injury that he suffered on Saturday on a head-first slide into second base. The good news is that Pillar doesn’t need surgery and he thinks he’ll be ready to go when his 15 days are up.
“That’s my prognosis,” Pillar said. “That’s the only one that really matters to me — how I feel about it. My level of pain tolerance is different than most. For me, I can go with the pain, it’s just about not hurting the team by being a guy who is in the lineup.”
Upton has picked up just five hits – all singles – in his first 36 at-bats as a Blue Jay. The soon-to-be 32-year-old is sitting on an unsightly .245 average and sub-.300 on-base percentage this season, but he’s provided plenty of category juice for fantasy owners with 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Many fantasy owners understandably cut Upton loose after the trade anticipating a drop in playing time. However, he should play regularly over the next two weeks and could be a nice power/speed option that might be available on your waiver wire.
National League Quick Hits: Junior Guerra was placed on the disabled list Monday with right elbow inflammation, with Wily Peralta taking his spot in the Brewers’ rotation … Corey Seager smacked a pair of solo homers in Monday’s win over the Phillies … Carlos Gonzalez was lifted from Monday’s game after aggravating a left ankle injury … Christian Yelich went 3-for-6 with a homer and four RBI in Monday’s extra-innings loss to the Giants … Bryce Harper (neck) is aiming to return to the Nationals’ lineup on Tuesday … Nolan Arenado went 2-for-4 and hit his 30th homer Monday against the Rangers … Arodys Vizcaino (oblique) is expected back within the next couple weeks … Cody Reed tossed six scoreless innings but took a no-decision in Monday’s loss to the Cardinals … Tyler Anderson pitched seven innings of one-run ball Monday against the Rangers … Nick Markakis doubled and belted a solo homer in Monday’s win over the Brewers … Trayce Thompson said Monday that X-rays revealed two fractures in his back, but he’s hoping to return in September … Joe Ross (shoulder) hopes to resume throwing this week …
American League Quick Hits: Yulieski Gurriel has been promoted from High-A Lancaster to Double-A Corpus Christi and his next stop is expected to be in the majors … Hisashi Iwakuma struck out eight over seven innings of shutout ball in a win over the Tigers … The Mariners optioned Taijuan Walker to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday … An MRI on Sonny Gray’s right forearm revealed no structural damage … Stephen Vogt went 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and a walk against the Orioles on Monday … Adrian Beltre went 2-for-3 and hit a solo homer in Monday’s comeback win over the Rockies … Tyler Duffey punched out eight batters across six innings of one-run ball in a victory over the Astros on Monday … Edwin Encarnacion went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and three RBI in Monday’s victory over the Rays … Kendall Graveman limited the Orioles to one run over seven innings in a win Monday … Logan Forsythe went 3-for-4 with a solo homer in Monday’s loss to the Blue Jays … Cameron Maybin (thumb) missed a fourth straight game Monday and will undergo an MRI or CT scan on Tuesday …
